'I’ve wanted to study at King’s since I was young – I remember walking past the campus on the Strand when I was very young and deciding I wanted to go there one day.
But while I was applying for universities my mum was involved in a road traffic accident, leaving her severely disabled. It meant I ended up working two jobs while trying to finish my college degree and paying for the mortgage at home. It was a really, really tough time.
Facing challenges
When I got into King’s, I had to work out how to finance my degree. I still had to cover lots of bills for the family home and knew that, if I ran out of funds, there wasn’t anything to fall back on.
My student loan just about covered my accommodation, so I had a job as well as my university work and nursing placement, which I didn’t get paid for. Mine was the first year after the government cut NHS funding for student nurses, so I just had no other support.
A life-line for Charlotte
I’m so glad I found out about the Hardship Fund and applied for it. When I received the funding, it was such a relief. I really needed the money just to pay for food and daily living expenses. It also had a positive impact on my studies. Before receiving the funding, I sometimes wouldn’t be able to come to class when I couldn’t afford to travel into central London.
To the alumni who have supported me, I would like to say thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to study. I never imagined my life to be like this.
I never thought that one day my mum would get into an accident and I would have to pick up the pieces. There are so many young people out there who are striving to make it, despite the number of hurdles put in front of them. And without the Hardship Fund they wouldn’t even have a chance.'